Thai Government, Protesters Call Tentative Truce

An anti-government protester hugs a Thai policeman as others watch them outside city police headquarters in Bangkok.
(AP)

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A tentative truce between fervent protesters and government officials was reached on Tuesday in Thailand in order to honor the birthday of the country's king. The truce should last over the next couple days, according to CNN.

The capital city of Bangkok also showed other signs of easing tensions as protesters tried to force their democratically-elected leaders to step down.

By Tuesday morning, police appeared to have adopted a more conciliatory approach. After negotiating with protesters, they took down the concrete barriers that blocked the way to the Metropolitan Police Bureau and allowed thousands of demonstrators to file through.

Some police officers shook hands with demonstrators, happily ushering them past in an area where tear gas had been fired during the night.

Protesters responded with cheers and applause, claiming victory. Some of them hugged police officers and took photos with them. The mood on the streets changed noticeably -- a more carnival atmosphere returned with demonstrators blowing whistles.

Government official Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut told CNN, "We both mutually agreed to back down for the sake of our great father, our King."

It is unclear if Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra plans to step down from her post, though the conciliatory atmosphere seems to make that less and less of a possibility. The current protests came about after the Prime Minister tried to pass an amnesty bill allowing her older brother—exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra—to return to the country. Detractors claim that she is just a mouthpiece for his interests.